When push comes to shove, it’s the scrum which could hold the key once again to Wales beating Scotland, according to Richard Hibbard.

When push comes to shove, it’s the scrum which could hold the key once again to Wales beating Scotland, according to Richard Hibbard.

Fresh from being part of a Welsh eight that, at times, shunted an Italian pack halfway across Rome in the set-piece, the Ospreys hooker reckons a repeat performance against at Murrayfield on Saturday week could again prove the difference.

With both side clinging to outside hopes of a title tilt, the idea of any quarter being asked or given is fanciful, but Hibbard has vowed that after the way the Azzurri were dealt with there is no question of Wales’ forwards taking a backward step now.

“The boys were very happy with how the scrum went,” said the 29-year-old. “They are renowned for their good scrum and I thought we took that platform away from them.

“We did a lot of work in the week knowing it would be one of their strengths so we were very happy indeed.

“The scrum is always down to the referee’s opinion I suppose, but we showed how positive we were. We wanted to scrum and we showed the referee we were the dominant scrum.

“It was a great effort from the whole pack.

“We just kept at them and putting them under pressure. “Eventually we knew it would give and we reaped the rewards towards the end at the scrum and around the pitch.”

Watch: Richard Hibbard talks to Jon Doel

If the Welsh scrum was the high point of the 26-9 triumph in Rome, the sloppy nature of some of the lineout work should perhaps be the low.

Wales’ struggle at that particular set-piece has long been a weakness on the international stage, albeit with the odd improvement in certain tournaments along the way.

Wales’ lineout success rate is not the worst in this year’s tournament, but they remain the only side who have failed to steal possession on a single opposition throw.

In contrast, the Scottish lineout has been arguably the slickest, most competitive on show so far.

“It was interesting how they got the win against Ireland,” Hibbard admitted.

“If you read all the stats they shouldn’t have won, but they did, largely because of their attitude. We know it will be tough up there.

“They seem very well-drilled at their set-piece. Their scrum is really good and they are very quick out of the blocks.

“They haven’t struggled against anyone yet so it will be an interesting battle.

“Our lineout was a bit messy in Rome, a bit scrappy.

“Mind you, it doesn’t help having to chase ball boys 30 metres to get balls and then have them roll them to you.

“In all seriousness, it didn’t go as well as we wanted it to go, but hopefully we will improve on that.

“Their lineout is very good. They are tall boys and they compete hard.

“You want to back your own drill. We know it is good enough to win the ball anywhere we want.

“We are not going to change too much, just back ourselves.”

Such confidence should not be in short supply after two impressively dogged Welsh wins on the road, although the Scots will also be in buoyant mood under charismatic Scott Johnson’s guidance

Another physical Six Nations war beckons on the Murrayfield battlefield, but that is where the conflict will end, according to Hibbard.

For his old friend and foe Johnson, he has already planned a special Edinburgh greeting

“I’ll see him after the game and I’ll probably give him a high five,” he said.

“To say thanks for the win!”

Yet the Johnson factor will not be lost on a number of Rob Howley’s players who have experience of the Australian either from working under him at regional level with the Ospreys or during his time as a Wales assistant to Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and latterly, controversially, Mike Ruddock.

Ask most players to extol the virtues of an opposition coach, and the usual cliched platitudes are almost certain to follow.

But ask Hibbard what Johnson brings to a rugby team, and the answer is a little more illuminating.

“Confusion” comes the immediate response.

The comment is delivered with a knowing smile, but there is more than a hint of agitated truth behind what appears a simple and humorous quip.

A year has passed since Johnson, in the final throes of his ultimately failed Ospreys reign, publicly questioned the hooker’s fitness levels and insisted he only had himself to blame for being left out of the 2012 Six Nations squad.

It led to stern words between the pair – Hibbard unhappy with a coach he had always been close to airing such concerns in public.

A few weeks later, the Australian’s idiosyncratic tenure had come to an abrupt end.

Interestingly, the ensuing 12 months have seen both men’s reputations grow significantly.

Hibbard, producing the best rugby of his career at regional level, is now finally establishing himself as Wales’ number one number two, while Johnson has delivered Scotland’s first back to back Six Nations wins in more than a decade since replacing Andy Robinson following the autumn internationals.

While much has changed for the two men, Hibbard predicts his old mentor will be at his mischievous best in the build-up to next Saturday’s Murrayfield clash.

“It will be most of the boys he actually coached playing against him,” he said.

“He knows the ins and outs of us and I’m sure there will probably be some mind games this week in the press from him. I’m looking forward to it.

“All that stuff was over a year ago now, although I wouldn’t be surprised if that comes back up this week.

“You know what he is like, he just says what he wants in press conferences and meetings.

“We had a chat about it, he said one thing and I said another. In his interviews, he brings confusion.

“But, in fairness, he is a good coach and I got on well with him at the Ospreys.

“He brings quite a bit and you can see that with the back-to-back wins they have had. Scotland are obviously benefiting from having him.”

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